Local hikers emphasize safety reminders
The Saturday morning death of a man on Barr Trail was one of four weekend incidents involving hikers on local trails.
Three hours after the Barr Trail fatality, an unidentified man injured while mountain biking was rescued by helicopter from High Drive at the Captain Jack’s trailhead.
Late Friday night, search teams assisted an injured female hiker near Gold Camp Road and Section 16.
“She twisted her ankle,” said Capt. Steven Oswald of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. “We went in on motorcycles, found her and provided medical care. With our assistance, she made her way back to the trailhead.”
On Sunday morning, Manitou Springs firefighters helped a hiker who became ill while hiking the Manitou Incline.
The incidents caught the attention of many hikers at the Incline, a popular trail where hiker rescues have happened before. The warm, sunny day before the official start of summer was a welcome respite for people tired of rainy weekends.
“I was pretty surprised but it’s understandable,” Ryan Dillabough, 18, said of the hiking incidents. “We don’t know what happened but the high altitude has a huge affect. So do dehydration, and slips and falls.”
Juliet Ellis, visiting from Oakland, California, agrees.
“I know that a lot of people don’t realize how dangerous it can be and how bad things can happen unexpectedly, really quickly,” she said.
Some hikers say that many people, especially tourists, come to the Incline for its intimidating presence or because they’ve heard about it, without thinking that it may be beyond their fitness level.
Experts recommend that hikers carry water or other supplies with them; bring extra clothing in case of sudden weather changes; apply sunscreen; wear a hat and sunglasses if needed; wear comfortable shoes; and avoid hiking alone.
“You need a friend,” said Rachel Hinton, an Oklahoman hiking the Incline for the first time. “Not one who will just tell you to go for it, but one who will while asking how you’re doing in the process.”
